Pillavin et al Flashcards
What is interpersonal distance?
Interpersonal distance refers to the physical space individuals maintain between themselves and others during social interactions, influenced by cultural, social, and personal factors.
What is personal space?
Personal space is the invisible area surrounding an individual where they feel comfortable and safe, and intrusion can cause discomfort or anxiety.
What factors contribute to preferred personal space?
Factors include cultural background, personality traits, emotional state, relationship with others, and situational context.
What is empathy?
Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand, and share the feelings or perspectives of others.
What are the two dimensions of empathy?
The two dimensions are cognitive empathy (understanding others’ thoughts) and emotional empathy (sharing others’ emotions).
What are social hormones?
Social hormones, like oxytocin and vasopressin, are chemicals that play a role in regulating social behavior and bonding.
How can social hormones affect bonding?
They can increase trust, promote feelings of closeness, reduce anxiety in social interactions, and enhance cooperative behavior.
What is the amygdala?
The amygdala is a brain structure involved in emotional processing, particularly fear, threat detection, and social interactions.
How does the amygdala correlate to personal space?
The amygdala helps regulate personal space preferences by detecting and responding to threats or discomfort when space boundaries are crossed.
What is the social salience hypothesis?
This hypothesis suggests that the amygdala highlights socially relevant stimuli, making certain interactions or cues more noticeable and influential.
What is the aim of the Perry et al. study?
The study aimed to explore how the amygdala and oxytocin influence interpersonal distance and personal space regulation.
What was the research method and design of the study?
The study used an experimental method with a repeated-measures design, testing participants under different conditions.
What were the data collection techniques?
Techniques included behavioral observations, questionnaires, and neuroimaging to measure brain activity.
What was the independent variable of the study?
The primary independent variable was whether participants received oxytocin or a placebo.
What was the dependent variable of the study?
The dependent variable was the interpersonal distance participants maintained from others.
What was the sample size of the study?
Approximately 30–100 participants were involved, ensuring a manageable size for detailed analysis.
How was the questionnaire designed in the study?
The questionnaire assessed participants’ comfort levels with interpersonal distances and their attitudes toward social interactions.
What were the standardized tests involved in the experiment?
Tests measured baseline traits like social anxiety, empathy, and personality characteristics.
What was the 3rd independent variable in the study?
The third variable could involve factors like social context or baseline amygdala activity.
What was the procedure for Experiment 1?
Participants received either oxytocin or a placebo, then their interpersonal distances were measured in standardized social scenarios.
What was the procedure of Experiment 2?
Experiment 2 replicated the conditions with additional neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI) to observe amygdala activation during distance tasks.
What controls were used in the study?
Controls included the use of placebos, random assignment, and standardized social scenarios to minimize bias.
Evaluate how ethical the study was (strengths and weaknesses).
Strengths:
Informed consent was obtained.
Minimal physical risk.
Participants were debriefed.
Weaknesses:
Oxytocin administration could raise ethical concerns.
Potential discomfort during social distance tasks.
What were the results of Experiment 1?
Oxytocin administration led to reduced interpersonal distances, suggesting its role in promoting social bonding.
What were the results of Experiment 2?
Neuroimaging showed increased amygdala activity when participants regulated their interpersonal distance, correlating with oxytocin influence
What is the conclusion of the study?
The study concluded that oxytocin and amygdala activity are crucial in regulating interpersonal distance and enhancing social bonding.
What are the strengths of the study (brief pointers)?
Combines behavioral and neurological data.
Innovative use of oxytocin administration.
High control over experimental variables.
What are the weaknesses of the study (brief pointers)?
Limited generalizability due to sample size.
Ethical concerns regarding hormone administration.
Potential bias in self-reported measures.
How is the study applicable to everyday life?
The study helps in understanding social anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and improving therapeutic interventions for social deficits.
What side is the study on in the individual vs. situational debate?
The study supports the situational side by showing how external factors like oxytocin influence personal space and social interactions.
